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Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Lee Byung Hun apologizes to wife over scandal

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Lee Byung Hun, the Korean actor who gained international recognition via the films “G.I. Joe” and “Terminator,” publicly apologized to his wife, actress Lee Ming-jung, after his name was dragged into a scandal involving a model and a member of a K-pop group.

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The Korean star issued the apology at Incheon International Airport on Oct. 20.

He was bound for California where he is scheduled to do a photo shoot as part of his duties as California’s celebrity ambassador to South Korea, a position he has held since 2010 upon then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s appointment.

“I’m sorry to everyone who got disappointed in me and am regretful. I’m especially sorry to my wife and family. I will work hard to make up for the pain I’ve caused my wife,” said the 44-year-old actor as quoted by ENewsWorld.

Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min-jung married in August last year.

The actor made headlines last month when he filed a complaint against model Lee Ji-yeon, 25, and GLAM member Da-hee, 20, for alleged blackmail.

The actor said the two threatened that they would release a video of him making lewd remarks unless he pays them 5 billion won (about P212 million).

During the first hearing held Oct. 16, the model claimed she and the actor were in a relationship.

“It’s true I demanded 5 billion won (from Lee Byung Hun) but Lee Byung Hun was the one who got my contact number first and wanted to meet. He told me he would find housing for me and even demanded that we have deep skinship when we were dating. We even had a quarrel in the process,” ENewsWorld quoted the model as saying.

Lee Byung Hun’s agency refuted the claims.

“What the blackmailers said during the trial today is a one-sided claim. The things they said cannot be directly proven. We can’t help but to think that they said those things in order to mitigate their punishment,” BH Entertainment was quoted as saying.

BH Entertainment added, “Lee Byung Hun is the undeniable victim. It is unfortunate that the focus is being shifted in the wrong direction and the essence of this incident is being forgotten.”